What’s more, today’s highly automated airline cockpit has become its own challenge, potentially leading to pilots with degrading flying skills. In fact, BIF’s Karlene Petitt has been calling for a return to our stick and rudder roots for some time now, and the call is starting to be heard.

In Rob’s enlightening piece, we find that even the most jaded fighter jock can find challenge—and joy—in a transition to the simplest of machines.

Be sure to join us by clicking the link below, right after today’s Word on the Ramp video!

WORD ON THE RAMP — SPECIAL “STAR WARS DAY” EDITION!

And now, back to our regularly-scheduled BIF, already in progress!

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(Note: Just received the word that there will be slight delay on Rob’s post; should be up soon!)

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One last thing:

Join us in helping the 99’s win a $10,000 grant!

The 99s are thrilled to be a finalist in the 2015 annual Lightspeed Aviation Grant Competition. Selected from a field of hundreds of nominees, they are one of 12 aviation charities competing for grants up to $10,000 Lightspeed will award to the aviation nonprofits receiving the highest Internet vote tallies in its 6th annual grant competition.

With votes from aviation enthusiasts, the aviation community, members, friends and family, the 99s can win the 2015 grant competition and use the Lightspeed grant to increase their outreach and presence at regional aviation events and publicize and award another Karen Johnson Solo Scholarship at Oshkosh.

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The scholarship will provide young women between the ages of 16 and 20 with funding for flight training through their first solo and beyond.

Eric Auxier

Airline pilot by day—Writer by night—Kid by choice!

WELCOME ABOARD!
I'm an A321 captain for a major U.S. airline. I may have over 22,000 hours in the cockpit, but I am still madly in love with flying. Through this blog, I share with you the magic, the joy, and the travails that is the airline pilot career. Life's an adventure—life in the sky, exponentially so!